PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Cristofer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Torc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lamont Cristofer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cristofer
vs
Torc

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

181 cm
18
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lamont Cristofer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Torc!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torc shoots in but no luck this time.
Torc swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cristofer shoots in but Torc avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Torc scores with a one two! Cristofer had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Torc shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cristofer as he avoids it easily.
Torc lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Torc throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horrible takedown by Cristofer or perhaps it was just good defense by Torc which made him look bad.
Torc tries for a takedown but Cristofer circles away easily

so Cristofer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lamont Cristofer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Torc.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Torc not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cristofer passes Torc's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Torc makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Torc.
Torc scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cristofer walks into a jab.
Torc shoots for a takedown but Cristofer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Torc looks gassed!

Cristofer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Cristofer decides to stand back up. Cristofer steps back and let's Torc get back to his feet.
Torc fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cristofer fails to land with a series of punches.
Cristofer throws a nice inside leg kick.
Torc cracks Cristofer with an open hand slap.

Cristofer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cristofer seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Torc is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cristofer scores with a couple of nice shots.
Torc is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Cristofer stands up out of the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristofer tries for a takedown but Torc sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cristofer tries for a takedown but Torc sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cristofer shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Danga de danga de dang - Torc scores with a four punch combination!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Torc breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Torc fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cristofer on the side of the head.
Cristofer tries to clinch there but Torc circles away.
Torc lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cristofer backs up against the cage.
A punch combination from Torc misses.
Torc blocks a head kick by Cristofer.
Torc tries to clinch up.
Torc is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristofer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Torc misses with a double jab.
Torc scores with a punch to the head.
Nice takedown defense from Cristofer. No joy for Torc on that attempt.
Cristofer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Torc as he avoids it easily.
Torc throws a head kick that misses.
Cristofer tries to clinch up but Torc circles away and keeps his distance.
Cristofer slaps away a takedown attempt from Torc, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Torc shoots in for a double leg but Cristofer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cristofer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Torc.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lamont Cristofer will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Torc misses with the combination.
Torc swinging wildly here.
Torc lunges at Cristofer with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cristofer's hand.
Torc tries to clinch up but Cristofer circles away and keeps his distance.
Lamont Cristofer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cristofer.
Cristofer is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Torc.
Torc lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cristofer circles away quickly and effectively.

Torc gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cristofer looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Torc is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cristofer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cristofer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lamont Cristofer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

We're going to have a standup here because Lamont Cristofer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Cristofer closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Torc's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristofer looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Torc isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cristofer stacks Torc on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cristofer!
Cristofer working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cristofer swings around for an armbar but Torc sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cristofer's guard.
Torc must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Torc content to stall in guard here.
Torc missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Torc gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Torc misses with a wild combination.
Cristofer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Torc!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Torc does no damage.
Cristofer looks for the body kick but Torc saw that one coming.
Max Torc seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Torc fails with a takedown attempt.
Torc defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cristofer.
Cristofer tries to clinch but Torc moves out of range.
Torc scores with a punch to the head.
Cristofer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cristofer throws a low kick but it's checked well by Torc.
A nice combination there by Torc.
Nice shot lands for Torc.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lamont Cristofer will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Torc throws a combination. Cristofer tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cristofer checks the leg kick nicely there.

Torc darts in and clinches Cristofer up against the cage.
Torc tries to land knees in the clinch but Cristofer avoids the damage to the body.

Torc breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cristofer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Torc paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Torc closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Torc is trying to break the clinch but Cristofer has him pressed against the cage.
Torc utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Cristofer jumps guard but Torc turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Torc is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Torc breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cristofer. Torc does a little dance to reset his feet.
Torc takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cristofer misses with the combination.

Torc closes the distance and pushes Cristofer back into the cage.
Cristofer stops a takedown attempt from Torc.
Cristofer is trying to drag Torc to the mat but Torc just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Torc tries to stall but Cristofer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cristofer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Torc is defending well for now.

Torc has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cristofer regains guard immediately.
Cristofer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cristofer looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torc wants to control from the top but Cristofer keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cristofer trying to keep a closed guard but Torc is proving a slippery customer.
Cristofer controlling Torc's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lamont Cristofer just wasn't active enough.
Torc lands a high kick!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cristofer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Torc but Torc pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lamont Cristofer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Torc darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristofer is trying to maintain the position but Torc is very close to passing his half guard.
Cristofer is looking to improve his position.
Cristofer misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Torc is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cristofer is just riding it out for now. Torc eventually gives up the hold.
Torc tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cristofer knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torc tries to stand and escape but Cristofer is controlling the position.

Cristofer is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Torc pulls his head out easily.
Torc tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cristofer controls his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Torc seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cristofer does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Torc comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cristofer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!